Two New Blue Throated Macaws

[Cephalotus]

Hi all! This is my first post on the forum so hopefully I can get some answers to my questions. I've already read every post I could find regarding blue throats and also watched every video there is, on top of doing a lot of research over the past year,

I am now the proud owner of two blue-throated macaws that someone had to rehome. They are two siblings that are about a year old that have lived their entire lives together. From what I observed, although they weren't previously neglected, it doesn't look like they were socialized very much either.

Although they do already let me give them head scratches, they seem to have absolutely zero interest in stepping up and seem very content by themselves. The great thing about this so far is that they really don't bother anyone since they have each others' company, but I would like them to be good pet birds, social and happy to interact with people as well. One is the more outgoing and bossy one, while the other is more shy but also more mildly tempered. They already picked up the concept of target training, but they won't go on my arm or hand, even for a treat. I obviously don't expect any immediate results, but if anyone has any tips regarding what I should do to help them out I'd be happy to hear them.

They are thankfully super quiet, except at nighttime it seems like. During the day they just let out very occasional and quiet chicken-like noises, but around 10/11 pm they started screaming really loudly for the past two days. I have interpreted this to simply mean they are tired, and after they start screaming, I put them to sleep. Am I doing the right thing here or accidentally reinforcing the bad behavior? Although this was only my second day with them, I did make sure the first night they got 12 hours of sleep, so it's not like they are sleep deprived but I figured maybe they are more tired than usual due to the stress.

Can I rely on their noise levels to remain constant ( in terms of not screaming), or is it possible that as they warm up to their new environment that they'll scream more?

Many thanks in advance! Here is a picture of them

 

[Alwese]

They are really stunning and don't look all that old. Two of my three macaws are technically rehomes and took some time to get them to accept me. If you are like me you will not accept rejection and will eventually win them over. My Catalina was the worst and I got him first. He took two years before I could handle him and now he is a loving pet after 19 years. My blue and gold is in a class by himself as I can safely put him on the arm of a 2 year old and he would never think of biting anyone. He has become the money-makingist bird on the planet and I take him to the beach and get tips letting people take cell phone pictures with him. So far this year he has made me $6,497.00 in 69 trips to the beach and the year is not over. My Scarlet would bite everybody, but he talks really good even out in public. If you have a well socialized bird you need to investigate taking them where tourists are. (well trimmed)

 

[noodles123]

Very cute/pretty birds!

Noise can always change--- I wouldn't bank on this being their standard forever-- especially because sometimes it takes them time to adjust before showing their "true colors"---plus, you still have puberty down the road and that can change things a lot. Puberty is a challenge for 99% of bird owners...Think of a baby vs a 17-year-old and how they treat their parents (moody, bossy, skeptical etc lol).
Also, for example, I had my cockatoo for a few years and one day she made a noise that stopped me in my tracks--- haven't heard it since, but my point is, you never know (I had heard her be loud before, but this was a new level of loud and she had been with me for multiple years when she let out the scream of all screams). Stress, hormones, changes in the home, lighting differences etc can all change a bird's volume.

Are they the same gender or opposite genders?
They are babies now, but when they mature sexually things could potentially get more complicated with the housing situation etc...(inbreeding etc)

How long have you had them?

Also, are they currently housed in the same cage?

Birds can take a long time to build trust, so not being able to touch them is normal early on. That having been said, pairs will often bond and that makes things a bit harder for the human (3rd wheel). Many species mate for life, so it can be harder to form a bond with a bird that already has bonded closely with another bird. I am NOT saying it can't be done, but it is often harder when you have a pair. Focus on building trust--- you may also want to consider separate cages, but I will wait for other members to chime-in on that possibility, as there will be mixed opinions...I am a bit worried about long-term issues (depending on the sex of both birds) and I think it would be hard to find a cage large enough for 2 adults.

 

[wrench13]

Hi, hi, hi! Welcome and be welcomed.

For all macaw owners,, go to the macaw sub forum, and read every single post started or contributed by birdman666 who is a guru and master of all things macaw. read them 2 or 3 times, there is that much information. Read them aloud to your macaws in a pleasant nice voice. They love being read to.

Blue throats are the mechanics of the bird world and LOVE to take thing apart, INCLUDING cages, so make sure your cage is of the welded type, or that the nuts n bolts are super tight. They are famous for reducing most cages to a pile of metal panels. Toys should be of the take apart type hint, baby toys and those for 3-5 yr old kids of the take apart type are especially good for these guys.

Looking forward to pics and many stories as these guys adopt you and your family.

 

[Cephalotus]

Thank you for the replies, everyone! I don't know their genders yet since the previous owners never had them tested and I haven't had the chance to get it done myself yet. I've had them for just over a week now, and things are going fairly well.

However, this is one issue I am running into. Out of the pair, one seems to be the more outgoing yet dominant/aggressive one. When I come by their cage to add toys he'll purposely try to go around the toy to bite my hand, and he does the same thing when I hand feed him by holding up his food bowl. Is this cage territoriality?

I am trying to work on getting them to step up, but they consistently stick one leg out then pull my arm in to bite it. I'm guessing its mostly a playful thing, but it still hurts so I pull back when this happens although I think I may be accidentally reinforcing it by doing this. They get the concept of target training by now but they'll focus on the target for a couple of seconds then go for my arm/fingers. Any suggestions for this? I don't think it's a matter of fear by now since they are always happy to see me, I think it's just a matter of a lack of "manners", but I am very unsure as to when and how to correct inappropriate behavior without breaking down their trust. Many thanks!

 

[mica21493]

So I'm having some trouble with target training too so I can't really help there, but as for the guy who is biting you when he is in the cage, my guy does that too. I stick trained him so if I have to add a toy or do cleaning or anything like that I am able to remove him from the cage easily.
I'm not sure if you take them out of the cage yet. Using the target training, could you get him to move to a t-stand or something like that to get him out of the cage when you hang the new toys? Maybe you could hold his food bowl then for treats? I totally don't mess with Bebee's food bowl for hand feeding when he is in the cage, as I would likely get bitten.
I have been doing some target training with him by having him move around inside the cage to touch the target and then treating him through the bars, could this work for you? It does seem to be helping with the cage aggression a little bit for me. If it is cage aggression, I think you should see a decrease when he is off of his cage. I see a big difference when Bebee is off of his cage.

 

[Laurasea]

This Pamela Clark is legend in behaviors. This link talks about helping two parrots with similar issues. http://go.skimresources.com/?id=162...tz=300&xuuid=bc5142c2f0e27c4eae52ef1e6ef1dc22

You can go to page 10 on my Ornithology thread for a bunch of links to behaviors. http://www.parrotforums.com/general...hare-discuss-scientific-articles-parrots.html

 

[MosaicMadness]

Hello, congrats on your 2 new babies! We have a 9 month old BTM, Mox. He is still very much a baby. Your two are still young and need guidance. I don't know if they are housed together or separate, but if together I would get a 2nd cage asap. Having different personalities is very normal. Mox isn't loud but he is extremely mischievious! I got him a new macaw sized swing for him for Christmas... I counted the days... it lasted exactly 8 days before he chewed down both sides of the chain chews and then through the bottom side of the perch. He now has lovely tarzan swings He also has let himself out of his cage. I think you may be reinforcing behaviors. 1. you should be putting them to bed/turning out lights around them before 10/11pm and not letting them get upset at you for being late (they need their beauty sleep) Our birds are in our main living area at the moment (the home remodel that will never end) and the kids all know that lights need to be off by 9pm and headphones on for their computers because the birds will fuss if they start talking or being loud. 2. You may just have to take a bite or two or stay far enough away that they can't bite you. Pay attention to their mannerisms and "vocab". Working with them individually would probably help and getting them away from their cage when you are working instead of from inside the cage. Good luck

 

[Birdman666]

If a macaws needs are met they are generally pretty quiet birds, except for feeding times and first contact in the morning/getting home from work.

BTM's are one of the smartest if not THE smartest of all the macaws, and they are definitely THE MOST mechanical of the bunch.

Huge personality bird. One of the easiest to handle. Socialize them. Handle them. You'll find yourself being loved on in no time... SERIOUSLY GREAT BIRDS!!!

One of my all time favorites. I don't have one, but I have worked with about a half dozen of these, and I love ALL of them...

Not a stinker in the bunch... except for that whole taking their entire freakin' cage apart bolt by bolt... in less than the time it took me to put it back together... and as I put one bolt in. they are taking that one off again! What a silly game...